We were saddened to learn today, (Tuesday the 22nd) that Rot Heap one of our tenors who was to be in the quartet and quintet had died of heart failure on Friday.

We went on with 21 men(one other than Roy was not present). There was a narrator, a former radio personality.  Director Louise Seger, Marie Smith and Sandra Petersen sang “There Within a Stable”, Dana Mathews on piano (a former group accompanist, Amy Siefert, attended the show). It went well and was well received by the audience that filled the main floor and a handful of balcony seats. I sang solo “A Cradle in Bethlehem”, Stuart Spendlove sang solo “Jesu Bambino”.  “O Holy night” was sung by a trio because of the absence of the deceased tenor. The quartet did “Christmas Chopsticks”. The group sang “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, Home for the Holidays, Silver Bells, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Three Songs for Christmas, We Three Kings, and Silent Night.”

It must have been okay for most of the audience stood for the final  applause.

I video taped it as did Clede Coombs. You really need a camera operator as some of the groups were cut off who stood on the south side of the stand.

As people left, they raved about how good it was and what a good voice I have. There is a new sound system in the building.  I stood close to the microphone. Paul Young of St. George has been encouraging me for several years to use the microphone better for more rave reviews.  And I must say that I never have received so many compliments as I did tonight. Paul certainly was right. He also advised to just have piano accompaniment.

Several thought I sounded like a certain country singer.  Just the song and the night, I’m sure.

Earlier in the day  I got  a call for a booking in January for  me to perform a Storytell-song show.

And when I got home, I called a former singing partner back. She’d arrived in town from Nashville on her way to Washington for Christmas. She wants me to sing backup and harmony parts with her on several songs for her new CD. We used to sing in a lot of places before she moved to Tennessee. When she returns, we’ll try to sing at some venue.

We used to sound good together.

I also met a lady at the Chamber of Commerce today. Pam S. who is a musician and a church choir director. She told me of her college group that toured in Japan in 1967. We spoke for about half an hour  about the great musical and vocal talent in southern Utah. Her sister, Kay H., is the leader of the Keynotes, a ladies choral group.

After the Tabernacle concert, Nolan Lowe a member of our group,  told me about he and a friend Larry, who as young men played guitar and sang( Larry with many cowboy bands at all the night spots) and the both at Larry’s Dad’s radio station.  Nolan was surprised when their recordings were aired on the station the next day.

A very musical day in spite of the rain and needed roof repairs I did.

No comments »